US and Iran will ‘stand down for now’ and talks ‘on track,’ Trump officials say after strikes exchanged

Both sides launched strikes and issued renewed threats over the weekend. It’s not clear yet what Iran’s position is.

Here's the latest

• Exchange of fire: The US and Iran will “stand down for now,” and talks remain “on track”, two US officials have said, after both sides traded fire near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s position is on the matter is currently unclear. The recent military action tested an initial agreement that was supposed to halt hostilities during 60 days of negotiations.

• Strait of Hormuz: Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains a fraction of pre-war levels, data shows, with different authorities vying to organize the transit of vessels, leaving operators with a difficult choice over which path to take. Iran’s foreign minister has said the waterway will remain under Tehran’s “exclusive management.”

• In Lebanon: Fighting between Hezbollah and Israel continued in Lebanon over the weekend despite a recent agreement between the countries. Iran has demanded a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon as part of a final deal with the US.

Fighting in Lebanon continues days after new agreement

By Xiaoqian Lin, Tal Shalev and Charbel Mallo

Israeli military vehicles drive amid destroyed buildings in Lebanon as seen from northern Israel, on Saturday.

Amir Cohen/Reuters

Conflict between Iran-backed Hezbollah militants and Israeli forces in south Lebanon continued over the weekend, days after the countries signed a new agreement.

The Israeli military said it struck three “Hezbollah command centers” in south Lebanon’s Nabatieh and Mayfadoun on Sunday. Israeli forces also dismantled what they said was a launcher that Hezbollah used to direct attacks at them, it added.

In a separate statement on Monday, Hezbollah said Israeli forces struck residential buildings in Nabatieh and Mayfadoun, among other attacks, calling them “a blatant violation of the ceasefire.”

Some context: An agreement signed in Washington on Friday, which both sides framed as a first step, stipulates Israel will withdraw troops from two areas in southern Lebanon. Two days after signing the agreement, Israel approved continued military operations in southern Lebanon.

Iran wants a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon as part of a final deal with the US.

Strait of Hormuz traffic still only a fraction of pre-war levels, data shows

By Kathleen Magramo

A total of 124 commodity vessels transited through the Strait of Hormuz since Thursday, according to Kpler, a data intelligence firm that tracks global shipping and commodity flows.

The number of ships that passed through the strait in four days is now similar to the number of vessels transiting in a single day before the war. Kpler data showed over 100 ships used to pass through the strait daily before the war began.

Kpler’s data tracked commodity ships such as tankers, dry bulk, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vessels but not shipping containers.

Maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies travel, remains stalled as renewed tensions flared in the region. In recent days, the US and Iran exchanged fire near the Strait of Hormuz and US military sites in Gulf nations were targeted.

While a Trump administration official said Sunday “vessels can move freely” in the strait, the situation remains tense in the waterway, leaving commercial vessel operators and their crews facing uncertainty and risk.

Despite US-Iran agreement, ship operators face difficult choice in Strait of Hormuz

By Mostafa Salem and Eleni Giokos

Vessels at the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, June 26.

Stringer/Reuters

The agreement which the US and Iran signed earlier this month stipulates that Iran will make “arrangements using its best efforts” to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

But for Iran, reopening the strait does not mean relinquishing control of it. A vaguely worded article in the agreement said Iran and Oman would work together to “define the future administration” of the waterway, effectively giving Tehran a formal role in managing it.

Three distinct routes for ships have now emerged, with different authorities vying to organize the transit of dozens of vessels through the waterway. One southern route goes through the waters off Oman; a second route, which was used before the war, passes through the middle of the strait; and a third route further north is controlled by Iran.

There is growing evidence that operators are prepared to use the Omani route.

On Thursday, 18 vessels transited inbound and 45 outbound through the Strait of Hormuz, according to maritime intelligence analysts Windward. It said more than half the vessels leaving the Gulf had used the southern route close to Oman.

Several large merchant ships used the southern route on Sunday heading for ports in the Gulf, according to ship tracking service Marine Traffic. A container ship also passed through the strait by the same route.

Nevertheless, the lack of clarity over which route to take is complicating efforts for trade in the waterway to return to pre-war levels.

The competing corridors have left ship operators confused, forcing them to navigate not only the treacherous waters but also the complex political currents across the strait.

If ships opt for the non-Iranian routes, they risk being attacked. If they use the Iranian route, they fear the risk of Western sanctions should the agreement collapse.

Where things stand after US-Iran exchanges escalated in recent days

By Kathleen Magramo

After the US and Iran traded attacks and Gulf nations came under fire, a Trump administration official said on Sunday that both sides will “stand down for now and vessels can move freely” in the Strait of Hormuz. It’s not clear yet what Iran’s position is on the matter.

But even as the official says “vessels can move freely” in the Strait of Hormuz and an interim agreement is in place, this has not been reflected in the waterway, leaving commercial vessel operators and their crews facing confusion and danger.

Here’s what to know:

• What happened: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it targeted US military sites in neighboring countries, including Kuwait and Bahrain, after the US struck Iranian sites. This came after an exchange of fire in previous days between the US and Iran.

• Talks still on: A senior US official said technical talks with Iran are still “on track.” US President Donald Trump previously threatened more military action if Iranian strikes continue, while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Sunday that countries in the region must not allow “their territory or facilities” to be used for attacks on Iran, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency.

• In Lebanon: Iran demanded a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon as part of a final deal with the US. Fighting in Lebanon has continued days after the signing of a new agreement in Washington.

• Oil inches higher: Oil futures rose on Sunday, following days of strikes between the US and Iran. On Friday, oil prices reached their lowest levels since the war began, with Brent settling at about $72 and US crude closing around $69. The average price of regular gasoline in the US fell to $3.87 a gallon on Sunday.

• Strait of Hormuz movements: Three routes for ships have emerged with different authorities vying to organize the transit of dozens of vessels. There’s a southern route that goes through the waters off Oman; a second route, which was used before the war, passes through the middle of the strait; and a third route further north is controlled by Iran.

• Shippers fear sanctions: The lack of clarity over which route to take is complicating efforts for trade in the waterway to return to pre-war levels. The competing corridors have left shippers confused, forcing vessels to navigate threats from sea mines, aerial drones and IRGC patrol boats.